Fair go in classrooms as CQU drives just education
An Australian-first event is aiming to enshrine a fair go in education – and CQUniversity students and staff are getting free front row seats to the transformative conversation.
CQUniversity will host the inaugural International Educational Justice Symposium across 24-25 August 2026, focused on breaking barriers to education, in the face of disruption, crises and fast-changing technology.
Led by the Education Justice and Innovation cluster of CQU's Centre for Research in Equity and Advancement of Teaching and Education (CREATE), the research event is the first time an Australian university will host a symposium with the global Educational Justice Institute.
CQU students and staff are invited to register for free for the International Educational Justice Symposium, by Friday 19 June.
Inequity = injustice
CQU Education academic and Symposium convenor Dr Corey Bloomfield said too many Australians were still shut out of life-changing education opportunities – and failure to improve equity was unjust.
“Studies suggest there is still vital work to be done in improving educational access and support for First Nations students, regional communities, people with disabilities, and those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds,” Dr Bloomfield said.
He said the Symposium would focus on:
- Building resilient learning environments in times of crisis
- Adapting curricula for future-ready learners
- Leveraging technology to improve flexibility and engagement
- Supporting educators in navigating educational disruptions, and
- Fostering mental health and emotional resilience in students.
Bridging the gaps
Dr Bloomfield is a former teacher, and at CQUniversity he helps prepare future teachers for their challenging careers.
This week, new analysis of NAPLAN figures showed across Australia, Grade 3 students whose parents attended university were academically more than two years ahead of peers whose parents didn’t complete school – and by Year 9, the gap was 4.26 years.
The Victoria University study showed that across the 17 years of NAPLAN testing, gaps have become more entrenched.
Dr Bloomfield said Australia could look locally and overseas to see where innovative approaches were successfully including and supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Global experts
Last year, CQUniversity was named in the top 25 universities in the world for social, environmental and economic impact, in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.
From a field of more than 2300 institutions, it was also named #3 in the world for contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
The Symposium will feature educators and researchers who help make CQUniversity Australia's most inclusive university, including event co-coordinator and Senior Lecturer in Theatre Dr Linda Lorenza.
The program also features CQU leaders:
- Associate Professor Jo Dargusch, Director of CREATE
- Professor Margaret Kettle, School of Education and the Arts
- Dr Melinda Mann, Senior Learning Designer and Lecturer - First Nations Cultural Competency
- Dr Gemma Mann, Senior Lecturer, School of Access Education
- Dr Bree Kitt, Lecturer in Education (Secondary).
International speakers will represent six institutions from across the United States, alongside Dr Linda Taylor from the Educational Justice Institute – a global organisation committed to shaping an education system that is inclusive, transformative and just for all.
Learn more about CQUniversity’s Education Justice and Innovation research and initiatives.
